Hugo Ekitike eyeing December return to action for Liverpool

Hugo Ekitike eyeing December return to action for Liverpool Hugo Ekitike is continuing his recovery from a serious Achilles injury and hopes to return to competitive action for Liverpool before the end of the year, according to L’Equipe . Ekitike has been sidelined since rupturing his right Achilles tendon during the Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain on April 14 . The 24-year-old was only beginning to establish himself for the France national team and was expected to lead the line at the World Cup in the United States. However, his prolonged absence has seen other attacking options emerge for Les Bleus. Esteban Lepaul started at centre-forward in France’s win over Belgium. He was also thriving with the Reds, bagging 17 goals and six assists in 45 appearances, taking the starting berth over Alexander Isak. The former Paris Saint-Germain striker will need to fight to reclaim his place on both fronts when he eventually returns. Ekitike remains fully committed to his rehabilitation. The Liverpool forward was in Reims, his hometown and former club, in August to give the ceremonial kick-off for a match involving his former side. He subsequently spent part of September continuing his rehabilitation at France’s national training centre in Clairefontaine before returning to Liverpool to continue his treatment. Ekitike also travelled to the United States recently to consult a specialist as he looks to ensure his recovery remains on track. Encouragingly, he has now started jogging, although there remains considerable uncertainty over exactly when he will be ready to resume full training and competitive football. Achilles injuries can be difficult to predict, with recovery timelines heavily dependent on how the player’s body responds at each stage of rehabilitation. Nevertheless, Ekitike is still targeting a return to training around November, with a potential comeback in competitive action pencilled in for December. He will hope the next stage of his recovery progresses smoothly as he attempts to rebuild his fitness and force his way back into the France and Liverpool conversation.